Articles

The Very First Apostate

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The Ultimate Expression of “Going South” Right?
BLASTED DOWNWARD!
WHY?

“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” Jude 6

The history of apostasy begins right here – with the archenemy of the Almighty. He who is the enemy of Christ is also the enemy of the people of God. Jesus told us that this devil, cast down to the earth, “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” and has come “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

Lucifer and a third of the angels of God became the very first apostates – those who were once with God then departed (1 Tim. 4:1-3). The angels were not “kept” against their own agreement or will. The same is true for humans God saves. They are never forced to remain in relationship with the LORD and if they depart (apostatize), eternal damnation awaits.

It’s a historical, biblical fact that Lucifer and a third of the angels that were previously of God and in His holy Heaven, chose to rebel and were thrust out of the LORD’s presence for good – they fell from grace.

“And he (Jesus) said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Luke 10:18

Lucifer, like all the angels of God, was given a choice. If such were not the case, how would one-third of the angels have departed from the LORD and two-thirds freely chose not to become apostate? From this we know the angels, a distinct class of God’s creation, have free will also. See Revelation 12:7-12. Lucifer was in the grace of God, holding one of the higher offices in Heaven, until he volitionally chose to sin (Ezekiel 28:15). Jude even warns us – human beings – citing the fall or apostasy of the angels in Heaven, warning us not to do as they did (Jude 5, 21). Satan and the fallen angels are irrevocably, eternally lost after having been in the grace and Heavenly abode of the Almighty.

“Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Ezekiel 28:15

There are many apostates on the timeline beginning with Lucifer in eternity past and from Genesis to Revelation. The book of Jude contains a list of apostates with warnings to us not to apostatize.

Judas, chosen by the LORD and promised an eternal throne in Heaven (Matt. 19:28), wasn’t faithful to the end, so he fell away into sin and is now in hell (Acts 1:25). Judas, like Lucifer, was clearly (at the time Jesus chose him as one of His very twelve) in right standing with Jesus “till iniquity was found” in him (Ezek. 28:15). Recall that like the archenemy of mankind, Judas fell by his very own transgression which is always the result of choosing to be out of fellowship with the LORD of all creation (Acts 1:25) . Beloved, any time we have fallen from the grace of God, it has been the direct result of our own transgression. May God be praised that He is “ready (postured) to forgive” as we turn to Him in repentance (Ps. 86:5, 15).

Any mere man who teaches that a saved person cannot fall from saving grace and be lost again, is simply a false teacher. Beware!

Satan’s First Lie that He is Still Telling Today! [podcast] | Calvinist Nightmare: The Judas Dilemma | The Truth About Predestination and Sealing | Satan

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Dialogue:

Message Received:

“I did not say Judas was saved. He was created to fulfill a particular role in GOD’s plan.”

Reply:

Among men, Judas was the worst apostate in history. Where does God’s Word say “Judas was created to fulfill a particular role in God’s plan”?

The Bible never says that Judas was created to sin or rebel or betray Christ. God foreknew that he would do these things BUT God never created Him or anyone to sin and do evil. He is “Holy, holy, holy” and “neither tempteth he ANY man” (James 1:13).

No man in His free will is forced to obey God . The covenant Jews were “cut off” and divorced by the LORD after being HIS (Jer. 3:8; Rom. 11:20-22, etc.). We should not take “sovereignty” too far – but rather let the Scriptures alone define divine truth.

If you say we should go with “common sense” as how an earthly father would not kick his own child out, then consider that it’s common sense then that God, who is “Holy, holy, holy” and told us He’s coming back for a church/people “without spot and blemish” will not take anyone He previously saved into Heaven if they die in sin (Isaiah 6:3; Ephesians 5:25-27; Rev. 2-3, etc.). See also Hebrews 12:14.

The idea that God will force a wayward sheep back is a farce. We are talking about man not God having free will. God didn’t force Judas to return to Him. The LORD never forced Lucifer, Esau, Saul, or any other rebel to return to him.

God never planned for ANY person to rebel and go to hell. That is an indictment on the Almighty who says He cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempted He ANY man and that He is not willing that ANY should perish (2 Peter 3:9; James 1:13-15, etc.).

what Scripture tells us that God Himself desires anyone to do evil/sin or go to hell, forsaking the sacrifice He wrought through His only begotten Son? God’s sovereignty can only and exclusively be measured by what He sovereignly gave us in His Word.

His FOREKNOWLEDGE in no way means He tampers with man’s free will that He sovereignly gave to man. He desires no man to sin or betray Christ.

God’s story is exclusively recorded in His written Word to correct any and all false philosophy one might have of Him (2 Tim. 3:16). God has never intended or willed any person, especially initially, to sin or be damned to hell (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). Such a notion is a lie an an evil indictment on Him who is love.

God is only involved with evil inasmuch as He has SOVEREIGNLY given man free will and some men (most) choose to rebel. But, He never desires or intends anyone to sin or go to hell.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15

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Articles

The Only Way Up is Down [podcast]

Chapter 8 from the book Raised Up (narration)

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18

The Down and Up Principle of God’s Kingdom

“And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root DOWNWARD, and bear fruit UPWARD.” Isaiah 37:31

The Scriptures follow a pattern of death and resurrection, a downward death and upward life. See if you can observe such a truth in the following verses:

“The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth UP all those that be bowed DOWN.” Psalms 145:14

Do you possess the blessed desire to be raised up by the Almighty? According to His divine wisdom given us in His precious Precepts, in order to be “raised up” we must first be “bowed down.” The LORD will not raise up any person who is still alive in his own power – He only raises up “those that be bowed down” in sincere humility before His majesty (Ps. 145:14; Jn. 12:23-25; Rom. 8:11).

“Those that be bowed down” will “take root downward” and be raised up in blessed fruitfulness (Isa. 37:31).

In order to “bear fruit upward,” one must first be planted in the house (kingdom) of the LORD and “take root downward” in the rich soil of His truth. The resurrection life of Jesus and ample fruitfulness will be the result.

Going deeper in God necessitates going down deeper into death and burial with Christ! Read Romans 6. There are no shortcuts (Galatians 5:24). Christ’s kingdom is a cross economy – one of utter humility and death to self that He might reign (John 12:23-25; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.).

“And whosoever shall exalt himself (upward) shall be abased (humbled); and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:12

“He must INCREASE, but I must DECREASE.” John 3:30

“And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat FALL INTO THE GROUND (downward) and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit (upward). He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life (downward) in this world shall keep it unto life eternal (upward).” John 12:23-25

“Humble yourselves (downward heart posture) in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10

The life of Christ will raise a man upward and this is after that man bows down his life or humbles himself under the mighty hand of God – first at initial salvation then in the consecrated life that brings God glory. Blessed resurrection life is the upward result of the life planted downward and this is the place from which ministry springs. Look at what the apostle Paul wrote in this regard:

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

Jesus declared to us that He came to make captives free from sin and Satan – “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (Lk. 4:18; Jn. 8:31-32, 36).There is chain-shattering, freeing power (liberty) in the redeeming blood of Christ and by the power of the Holy Ghost (Lk. 4:18; Jn. 8:36; Acts 26:18; Col. 1:12-14; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 12:11). The divine promise is that when one bows down before the LORD, every yoke shall be broken by Him who is above all (Isa. 58). No stronghold or bond of Satan has power when Christ’s blood is applied in sincere repentance and by the power of the Holy Ghost! The saint who is raised up after being bowed down, will glorify God in rich fruitfulness being “changed into the same image (Christ’s) from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

It is the divine Person of the Holy Ghost who raised up the LORD who was bowed down before His Father in death in order to purchase His Church with His own sinless blood (Acts 20:28). In like manner, it is the Holy Spirit with His resurrection power who raises up those who be bowed down before His throne of grace.

“And he (Jesus) was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God… And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.” Luke 13:10-13, 16-17

There can be no resurrection until there is first a death. A seed is dead or dormant then is planted and then germinates and brings forth bud, then a stalk and ultimately fruit – but first it must be buried downward in order to bear life-giving fruit upward. The life buried with Christ will be lifted up by divine power and bear much fruit to God’s glory (Jn. 15:8).

“But if the Spirit of him that raised UP Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised UP Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive upward) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

Our LORD had to first die and be buried “downward” in order to be raised “upward” by the Father in resurrection life to raise up and justify all those who would call upon Him in repentance (Rom. 1:4; 8:11; 10:13). In order for fruit to be borne “upward,” the disciple must first be planted “downward” in “the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Isa. 37:31; Phil. 3:10).

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” Romans 6:3-5

“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12

He created man with a choice (Josh. 24:15). In the end there will be “the resurrection of life” and also “the resurrection of damnation” (Jn. 5:28-29). Each of us will be in one of these resurrections – either everlasting life or eternal death (conscience separation from God in hell). The entrance into Heaven or termination into hell will hinge upon whom we served – God or self (Rom. 6:16).

Real promotion comes only from the Giver and Sustainer of all life – from the north (Heaven).

“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” Psalms 75:6-7

That person who freely chooses to believe God, taking Christ at His Word, bowing under His infinite Majestic glory, will be raised up both now and forever and eternally glorified with the Alpha and Omega (Phil. 2:5-11; 2 Thess. 2:13-14).

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.” Psalms 92:12-14

PRAYER: Please draw me deeper into You LORD Jesus. Father in Heaven, You sent Your only begotten Son to die for me in order that I might be raised up in new life in this brief life and eternally. I love You Jesus and ask You to lead me to that crucified life that you lived when here on earth and as You gave Your life blood on the cross to save Your people. Please quicken me by Your Holy Spirit and fill me afresh O LORD, that this life You gave might be fully one with You and fruitful and pleasing to Thee. Lord, I am watching and praying in light of Your soon return. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

If you truly desire to know more about how to really know the LORD, go here okay: Born Again: What is It?

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PEACE with GOD

Feedback:

“Awesome message. Thank you for sharing it. I would like to encourage everyone to read this and to look at the scriptures in their own Bibles! Wonderful message.” Linda C.